Checking In With New UConn QB, JUCO Transfer Chandler Whitmer

Caught up with and had a real good conversation with new UConn quarterback - and JC transfer - Chandler Whitmer.

Well-spoken young man, respectful. Here he is on his decision to attend UConn:

"I had been through the recruiting process before and I kinda knew what to look for going through it a second time,'' said Whitmer who first went to Illinois then left to compete a season at Butler County (Kansas) Community College. "Overall UConn just offered the most and the best of the things needed to further my career and education as well. It just seemed like the best opportunity for me."

UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni wasted little time in determining the Huskies needed to add two quarterbacks to the 2012 class and they did it with Whitmer who brings JUCO experience as well as some from a BCS program and Masuk-Monroe's outstanding state player of the year Casey Cochran.

Whitmer and Cochran officially signed with the program within a week of each other last month. Both will be on campus in January and ready to compete in what should be a very interesting spring practice as far as that position alone is concerned.

Shucks, the Huskies have two scholarship players there in Scott McCummings and Michael Nebrich and starter Johnny McEntee played as a walk-on.

Still, there's a lot of youth there.

Again, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Whitmer brings experience: 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns worth as part of an 11-1 season at Butler in which Whitmer was named a JUCO Honorable Mention All-American.

"Coming from JUO I've got three years left to play and that's what I want to do," said Whitmer, who visited UConn the weekend it drilled Rutgers 40-22 at Rentschler Field. "I want to make an impact on a team, come in and play right away. They're definitely going to give me an opportunity to compete for that job. I know there's some other good quarterbacks there I'm happy to compete hard with."

That competition is likely going to mean an upgrade at the position, too.

Whitmer is pretty familiar with the UConn program's struggles at QB and the passing game. He wants to do something about it or at the very least help.

"Definitely," he said. "I feel like with the new coaches they have in here and that style of offense they're bringing in, not only is it pass-friendly but it's a good offense to keep a defense off balance. We can come in and change that past of not having quarterbacks work out. That's what I plan on doing coming out there, turning the program around a little bit and getting it to where people want it to be."

That sounds like pressure.

Does Whitmer mind having it on him?

"Absolutely not," Whitmer said. "You have to be able to handle pressure at quarterback and I think the position comes with a lot of things, not just pressure but responsibility and I think I'm able to handle that and take it one day at a time working hard."

The system UConn runs now was a lure for Whitmer, too, in that it was similar to the offense run at Butler.

"It wasn't as advanced being a two-year school but it was similar," Whitmer said. "There was some underneath center, play-action, bootlegs, drop backs, that kind of thing. It's a great offense for my style of play."

Whitmer said he was hanging with wide receiver Shakim Phillips on his visit to UConn. The two hit it off right away and will room together during the school year.

Whitmer said he has yet to speak with Bryce McNeal, the transfer wide receiver coming from Clemson in the summer but he said he was excited - "sweet" was the word he actually used - about McNeal's arrival and eligibility for the 2012 season

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